Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing is a kart racing video game in the Sega Superstars series produced for Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS, Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X, featuring characters from many Sega franchises. It also made its way to the arcade along the way. Please take a look.

If you have a suggestion for a future episode of Shack's Arcade Corner, please let us know in the comments section or tweet @shacknews & @GregBurke85 with #ArcadeCorner.

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 16:00:00 PSTGreg BurkeModojo Rewind: Pokemon Giveaways; Scandals; and Mario, Mario, Super Mario Runhttp://www.shacknews.com/article/98105/modojo-rewind-pokemon-giveaways-scandals-and-mario-mario-super-mario-run
http://www.shacknews.com/article/98105/modojo-rewind-pokemon-giveaways-scandals-and-mario-mario-super-mario-runThis week was a busy one on Modojo, your dojo for everything mobile. The big topic on everyone's mind in mobile gaming is Super Mario Run. We finally got some hands-on with the game, and we were impressed. Make sure you check in with us next week for even more on that.

Every week is a Pokémon week these days, and we had plenty going on in that arena. There were Pokémon giveaways, and Pokémon GO owners got a chance to catch Ditto for the first time. We even had a little bit of scandal in the world of mobile gaming this week. Oh my!

Watch Mario Build, Watch Mario Run

We've been waiting for some solid time with Super Mario Run for months now, and Shacknews CEO Asif Khan got us the goods with a hands-on impression of the game and screenshots from the first six worlds. The rest of the world got in on the fun when Reggie Fils-Aime revealed that Super Mario Run would be available to play at Apple Stores while on The Tonight Show, and we all got a look at the fun new ad for the game. Super Mario series creator Shigeru Miyamoto even got in on the fun! The Mario news didn't stop with Super Mario Run, though. Steve Watts reviewed Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS.

Pokémon, Closer to Catching 'em All

Pokémon has two giveaways going on right now. The first is the wrap-up giveaway from the Pokémon 20th Anniversary. Meloetta is available now, and you can get this Poké from now until December 24. A new Pokémon Sun and Moon legendary is available too. Magearna is available for Pokémon Sun and Moon indefinitely; you just have to beat the game before you can get it.

Pokémon GO got an update too which added Ditto. Catching Ditto is a little tricky, but we put a guide together to help you out.

Scandal in the Mobile Gaming Industry!

Topping off the week was something a little scandalous. Apparently, you don't want to mess with Zynga as two former employees are finding out. Zynga is filing suit on these neer-do-wells who went to work at a rival and took some of Zynga's secrets, and their employees, with them!

That's it for this Modojo Rewind. We'll be bringing you more of the best and most important mobile gaming and technology news soon!

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 15:30:00 PSTShack StaffPlay Heroes of the Storm's Winter Veil Christmas event, get a free festive treasure mount goblinhttp://www.shacknews.com/article/98103/play-heroes-of-the-storms-winter-veil-christmas-event-get-a-free-festive-treasure-mount-goblin
http://www.shacknews.com/article/98103/play-heroes-of-the-storms-winter-veil-christmas-event-get-a-free-festive-treasure-mount-goblinHeroes of the Storm's annual Winter Veil Christmas event returns on December 14, and playing 25 games between then and its conclusion on January 9 will earn you two free gifts.

The first is the Festive Treasure Goblin Mount. The other is a snowflake portrait that goes great with the candy canes poking out of the Festive goblin's Santa sack.

One note, though: playing Heroes Brawls won't count toward your 25-game total. On the bright side, you'll get 25 percent extra XP from every other game mode, one of which is the "frosty" Brawl that Blizzard hasn't detailed yet.

And since it's the season for giving, Blizzard will also offer up the following shop items during Winter Veil:

Winter Veil 2016 Bundle

Special Snowflake Mount

Lunara

Winter Veil Lunara Skin

Nazeebo

Gingerdread Nazeebo Skin

Winter Veil Classic Bundle

Stitches

Greatfather Winter Stitches Skin

Sylvanas

Sugar Plum Sylvanas Skin

Jaina

Winter Veil Jaina Skin

Rehgar

Great-father Winter Rehgar Skin

Reign-Deer Mount

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 15:04:00 PSTDavid CraddockSteep Review-In-Progress: Downhill Slopehttp://www.shacknews.com/article/98101/steep-review-in-progress-downhill-slope
http://www.shacknews.com/article/98101/steep-review-in-progress-downhill-slopeSteep is a GoPro filmmaker fantasy. It allows you to visit some of the highest reaches on Earth to challenge the slopes of mountains in the Swiss Alps via snowboard, ski, wingsuit, or parachute, all with the option of viewing it in an impressively accurate first-person perspective. And to its credit, it's pretty effective. The wind rushes through your ears, the field of view is shaky and tossed about by the slightest change in movement pattern, the snow caves beneath your snowboard and skis, and there's a rush to it that I imagine is a decent re-creation of what it feels like to take on nature in this defiant manner.

But the more I play, the more I'm suspecting a majority of Steep's development was poured into beefing up this aspect of it and not necessarily making it into the best game it could be.

There are neat aspects of Steep. The environments are beautifully rendered, made up of striking vistas and comfortable mountainside villages. The character animations are elaborate and complex, changing as they trudge through varying depths of snow and alternate between walking, running, and crawling along steeper inclines. Gliding along and cutting through the powder on a snowboard or skis has a smooth, natural feel, and flying through the air in the wingsuit or parachute feels strangely peaceful, yet chaotic. Everything about it visually is extremely well-executed and evocative.

But peel away impressive visuals, and you're left with a game that seemingly holds itself together with haphazardly-placed thin threads. Being that it's an open world extreme sports game, you're encouraged to explore around the mountains, detecting drop zones and finding new challenges to participate in. This starts off encouraging; you can race, perform freestyle stunt rides, and attempt to control your trajectory on a number of different paths made specifically for the sports available. But Steep's attempt to be a multi-faceted game dilutes its actual gameplay to the point where it's not a test of skill or reflexes; it eventually devolves into running through the motions, navigating the slopes and air wthout having to worry about any drastic consequences as a result of failure.

There's even a quick reset button that will transport you instantly to the start of a challenge should you make any grave mistakes, making it one of the more forgiving extreme sports games I've played. It's mechanically simple to the point of not being challenging or fun; complex tricks are pulled off by single button presses, in-air courses are really just a challenge to get your elevation gauged correctly, and it feels like something that wants to be a game to all people, but doesn't nail the approachable-but-complex intersection it needs in order to be successful in that pursuit.

The visual design also gives it a sense of homogenity that eventually becomes downright boring. Once you've seen one slope, you've more or less seen them all. Characters don't have much of a sense of personality, and the entire thing feels more like a surface-level experimental photo mode than a fully-formed video game. But, I plan to invest a few more hours into it for the sake of attempting to get a better sense of it before issuing a final verdict.

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 15:00:00 PSTCassidee MoserWatch Dogs 2's T-Bone DLC delayed due to having to work on patcheshttp://www.shacknews.com/article/98102/watch-dogs-2s-t-bone-dlc-delayed-due-to-having-to-work-on-patches
http://www.shacknews.com/article/98102/watch-dogs-2s-t-bone-dlc-delayed-due-to-having-to-work-on-patchesUbisoft had planned to release Watch Dogs 2's T-Bone Content Bundle DLC on December 13, but opted to delay it.

T-Bone might have launched on time, but issues like the game's seamless multiplayer failing to work upon release required the team to put DLC on the backburner.

"This and previous patches were an important step towards stabilizing Watch Dogs 2’s seamless multiplayer functionality, and other core online features, before releasing any new multiplayer content," a Ubisoft spokesperson explained in a blog. "Since these updates required additional development resources, we’ve made the decision to adjust our release schedule for that new content."

PS4 players will get T-Bone on December 22 (December 26 in Japan). Xbox One and PC players will get caught up on January 24.

The T-Bone Content bundle centers on Raymond "T-Bone" Kenney. Players will get his attire, a modified school bus complete with a bulldozer blade, and Mayhem challenge for co-op featuring the Grenadier enemy.

There will also be a Chaos event starting the week of December 19. "This free event will run for four weeks, with each week bringing a new themed challenge through Ubisoft Club that gives players a chance to earn in-game currency and unique event rewards, like new car skins or a new bag for Marcus," said Ubisoft.

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 14:30:00 PSTDavid CraddockThat One Weird Trick MIT Has to Make VR Go Wirelesshttp://www.shacknews.com/article/98100/that-one-weird-trick-mit-has-to-make-vr-go-wireless
http://www.shacknews.com/article/98100/that-one-weird-trick-mit-has-to-make-vr-go-wirelessOne of the big blocks to a fully immersive virtual reality experience with PSVR, Oculus, or Vive is that they have to be tethered by cables to work. As impressive and breathtaking as today's VR games and experiences can be, there's always a copper umbilical cord firmly connecting you to real life.

MIT is working on a solution that will untether your VR experience and finally let you walk around virtual worlds unimpeded by wires. MIT's prototype, called MoVR, isn't revolutionary in principal. In fact, it uses technology that has been known about for quite some time; this is just one of the few instances that technology can actually be utilized.

MoVR uses mm-wave technology, which has a very fast transmission speed, and a huge amount of bandwidth. This means that the multiple Gbps that needs to be relayed between your VR headset and your computer via wires can be replaced by MoVR's mm-wave wireless set-up. The catch with mm-wave tech is that it has a very narrow wavelength, which means that objects that wouldn't impede your wi-fi or cellular signals can stop mm waves in their tracks. Even high humidity levels can obstruct a mm-wave signal.

It's these drawbacks that have kept mm-wave from being adopted for any wide-spread consumer products. However, with VR, these issues become less glaring. Wired VR already requires a relatively clear area near your computer, so that takes care of range and blockage. The only problem you have then is your body blocking the signal, which is where the second task for the MoVR comes into play.

In addition to feeding your VR headset the multiple Gbps of data in real-time, it also detects blockages that might impede the flow of that data. The MoVR box knows where you PC and VR headset are in relation to the mm-wave transmitter at all times. If it detects that a blockage is occurring, it can use a mirror system to wave the beam clean of any blockage in microseconds.

This technology isn't something that has to be Kickstarted, or that is years down the road either. The prototype MoVR is fully functional and working at full speed with the HTC Vive, no cord at all. The prototype is currently the size of one or two smartphones, so it's still a bit large for full production. However, the team is working on making the unit smaller and flatter, as well as reducing power consumption so that the headset can last on a battery longer.

With this much progress made already, expect to see MoVR, and solutions like it coming as add-ons to current VR platforms. Who knows, by the time the next generation of VR devices is announced this might be a standard feature.

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 14:00:00 PSTJason FaulknerDivide: Exploring a strange new reality at PlayStation Experiencehttp://www.shacknews.com/article/98098/divide-exploring-a-strange-new-reality-at-playstation-experience
http://www.shacknews.com/article/98098/divide-exploring-a-strange-new-reality-at-playstation-experienceImagine receiving a mysterious package, only to find that it contains the key to a completely different world. That's the general story behind Divide, an isometric science-fiction dungeon crawler and the debut effort from Exploding Tuba Studios. But while the story focuses on the sci-fi future, the game appears to be an homage to the top-down isometric adventures of the past. Shacknews went hands-on at this year's PlayStation Experience.

Divide focuses on a man named David, who mistakenly receives a strange package from an organization called Vestige. The package contains an orb that sends him into a completely different augmented reality. And while David has no idea what's happening, Vestige wants that orb so much that they've abducted his daughter in an effort to get it back.

The demo from PlayStation Experience took place across a scientific facility, with Vestige guards on patrol. While Divide isn't exactly a stealth game, it's definitely beneficial to approach it like one. That's because David isn't a soldier or hardened tough guy, but rather an average man. He does have ways to defend himself, mainly a futuristic stun taser (the E-Laser) as his sidearm. Divide plays like a twin-stick shooter, with players able to aim with the right stick and pull the right trigger to attack. The problem is that David can only take a couple of hits before going down. Since it doesn't help that attacks feel slightly delayed and weapon fire attracts unwanted attention, the stealth route quickly proved itself to be the best one.

There's another key element to Divide and that's hacking. David can hack into terminals to open up new paths forward, which include both main and secret paths. He can also utilize certain terminals to set traps for guards or send them off in a completely different direction, allowing him to escape unseen. While combat is an option, Divide seems to be a more rewarding experience when played nonviolently.

There's far more to the Divide narrative than what I got to check out at PlayStation Experience, with dialogue, lore, and choice-driven conversations strewen throughout the game. It moves the story forward, but also challenges the player to think about what the "truth" behind the narrative really is.

It won't take long for the Divide story to unfold. The game is set to hit PlayStation 4 on January 31 before coming to PC.

"Ideally, we'd love to sell four million on day one globally," Molant said in an interview with MCV.

"That would be great. Looking at what we see in the preorders and trends these days, we're pretty confident we are going to get there. All the signs that we have seen across the market, whether it's from the UK or from other territories, are very positive so far. We're not sitting back and relaxing at all because we want to push that. The confidence is there."

GameSpot pulled up lifetime sales for Capcom's best-selling games and pointed out that the publisher has a steep, if not sheer hill to climb if it wants RE7 to hit those day-one numbers. Resident Evil 5 takes the cake at 7.1 million across Xbox 360, PS3, and downloads. Resident Evil 4, a fan-favorite entry along with RE2, has sold 5.9 million across numerous systems factoring in re-releases.

Street Fighter II on SNES, published in June 1992, sits at number three with 6.3 million units sold—an astronomically high figure for that era, when most games were lucky to crack one million.

Like RE4 in 2005, Resident Evil 7 will usher in a radical departure from the series' status quo: from static camera angles and tank controls, to over-the-shoulder shooting, to a first-person horror crawl reminiscent of Konami's P.T., a prototype of the now-cancelled Silent Hills.

"While there will be some combat in the main game, it's important to note that Capcom is serious about the survival horror atmosphere for this installment of the series," he wrote in his hands-on preview.

"Players won't step into the shoes of accomplished agents like Chris Redfield, but rather into the far more average shoes of a new character. This character won't be armed to the teeth, harkening back to the old days of scarce resources and learning to escape without killing everything in sight. It's more about surviving through logic and instinct than through sheer firepower."

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 13:46:00 PSTDavid CraddockPhysical sales of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare dropped 50 percent compared to Black Ops 3http://www.shacknews.com/article/98097/physical-sales-of-call-of-duty-infinite-warfare-dropped-50-percent-compared-to-black-ops-3
http://www.shacknews.com/article/98097/physical-sales-of-call-of-duty-infinite-warfare-dropped-50-percent-compared-to-black-ops-3NPD Group published data showing that physical sales of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare dropped 50 percent in November relative to physical sales of last year's Call of Duty: Black Ops III from the same time period.

That steep decline in the United States falls in line with data gather from UK analyst firm Gfk Chart-Track, which reported last month that the Call of Duty franchise experienced a 48 percent year-over-year decrease in first-week sales.

An anonymous source on Wall Street told CNBC that Call of Duty unit sales were down 51 percent year-over-year.

Competitor Electronic Arts, which published Respawn's Titanfall 2 and DICE's Battlefield 1 in close proximity to Call of Duty this year in order to entice consumers to its side of the fence, noted in November that digital sales account for 30 percent of total sales.

However, a 50 percent drop in disc sales spells bad news for Activision from any angle. Shares of Activision Blizzard fell 20 percent from highs in mid-October. Brian Nowak, an analyst for Morgan Stanley, predicted a 10 percent sale decline for the Call of Duty franchise.

"We remind people we're building a franchise with Titanfall, so it's not about the first day of sales or the first week of sales, it's about the long run," EA CFO Blake Jorgensen said following reports that early sales of Titanfall 2 would fall way under expectations. "We'll do a lot of things with Titanfall to continue to build engagement."

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 13:09:00 PSTDavid CraddockUnity Snatches Uber's AI/Machine Learning Head for VR/AR Developmenthttp://www.shacknews.com/article/98096/unity-snatches-ubers-aimachine-learning-head-for-vrar-development
http://www.shacknews.com/article/98096/unity-snatches-ubers-aimachine-learning-head-for-vrar-developmentUnity has hired Uber's former head of machine learning, Dr. Danny Lange, to take on the problems of augmented reality and virtual reality gaming AI. Unity's explosive growth is allowing it to focus on making its engine more friendly and capable when it comes to AR/VR gameplay and Dr. Lange will help develop machine learning and AI algorithms needed for computer-controlled enemies and allies in a truly three-dimensional setting.

Unity is now powering 34% of top mobile games and an enormous amount of console and handheld titles as well. Unity hopes that by expanding its engine to make VR/AR development easier and more efficient that it can nail down an early lead as the game engine of choice for VR/AR developers.

Dr. Lange's history developing machine learning solutions for Microsoft, Amazon and Uber make him a perfect fit for Unity's needs according to Unity Technologies CEO John Riccitiello. As gaming grows into the new frontiers of VR and AR, we can expect to see a larger and larger amount of personnel from all across the tech industry migrating to these new forms of entertainment.

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 12:50:00 PSTJason FaulknerShigeru Miyamoto's t-shirt from The Tonight Show may hold a clue to the next Mario gamehttp://www.shacknews.com/article/98094/shigeru-miyamotos-t-shirt-from-the-tonight-show-may-hold-a-clue-to-the-next-mario-game
http://www.shacknews.com/article/98094/shigeru-miyamotos-t-shirt-from-the-tonight-show-may-hold-a-clue-to-the-next-mario-gameNintendo executive Bill Trinen teased that the t-shirt Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto wore during his appearance on Wednesday's The Tonight Show holds some kind of secret, possibly for the Mario game being made for Switch.

"Has anyone figured out what's up with Miyamoto's Samurai Mario shirt?" he tweeted on Thursday night. "'Cause I know what's up," he added in a follow-up tweet.

Take a gander at the image and you'll notice that Miyamoto's shirt shows off Mario wearing a samurai outfit.

Eager fans piled into Trinen's Twitter thread to propose theories. "In case you were wondering, the kanji on Miyamoto's shirt is 'Ran,' which in Japanese is pronounced exactly like 'Run,'" replied Twitter user Kyle McLain.

Miyamoto's shirt could be hinting at a power-up used in the forthcoming Mario game for Nintendo Switch. Note that Trinen's explicit use of "Samurai Mario" follows the naming syntax Nintendo applies to power-ups, such as Raccoon Mario in Super Mario Bros. 3 and Cat Mario in New Super Mario 3D World.

Nintendo offered a peek at a new Mario game running on Switch back in October when it rolled out its Switch reveal trailer. As to Samurai Mario and the true meaning behind Miyamoto's seemingly innocuous t-shirt, only time will tell.

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 12:42:00 PSTDavid CraddockUpdate: Ubisoft Executives Accused of Insider Trading Receive Sanctions From French AMFhttp://www.shacknews.com/article/98093/update-ubisoft-executives-accused-of-insider-trading-receive-sanctions-from-french-amf
http://www.shacknews.com/article/98093/update-ubisoft-executives-accused-of-insider-trading-receive-sanctions-from-french-amfWe reported last month about accusations of insider trading against Ubisoft Executives brought by the French AMF. The French AMF charges that the executives used knowledge of the impending delay of The Crew and Watch_Dogs to 2014 to sell and profit from Ubisoft stock before the official delay announcement on October 15, 2013.

Although the five accused executives assured that there was no ill will involved with the stocks they sold during that period, the French AMF has decided to levels sanctions against them. Ubisoft officially continues to stand by their employees and takes the position that those involved sold their shares in good faith and did not intentionally commit any acts contrary to market regulations.

Ubisoft's defense of the five is: given the complexity of processes and timetables in video game production, these employees could not have predicted that these two games would be delayed. Furthermore, the decision to delay a game rests with Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot exclusively, so these Executives were not involved when the choice to postpone the games was made.

Four of the five Ubisoft employees accused of insider trading, Christine Burgess, Yannis Mallat, Olivier Paris and Francis Baillet, plan to appeal the decisions of the Sanctions Committee of AMF France. They released the following statement about their feelings and intent:

"We remain convinced that the whole process is unjustified, unfounded and illegal. Moreover, the Commission notes that the hearings conducted in Quebec are null and void. We will, therefore, continue to defend our good faith and our rights before the Court of Appeal in France, and also via the lawsuit in Quebec brought against the AMF France and the AMF Quebec."

For now, the five accused of insider trading still are employed at Ubisoft. Appeals processes can take months to years of time, so who knows when this scandal will finally be settled.

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 12:00:00 PSTJason FaulknerMagic Leap Isn't As Magic As CEO Rony Abovitz Sayshttp://www.shacknews.com/article/98091/magic-leap-isnt-as-magic-as-ceo-rony-abovitz-says
http://www.shacknews.com/article/98091/magic-leap-isnt-as-magic-as-ceo-rony-abovitz-saysPrevious PR blasts from Magic Leap about their augmented reality headset painted a picture of an almost finished product. With robots jumping out of walls, rayguns you could pick up firing energy blasts, and turrets placed on office floors, Magic Leap looked miles ahead of rival Microsoft's HoloLens. The problem is, all those robots and rayguns weren't real.

Magic Leap is one of technologies most secretive firms. Notorious for closed doors and NDA happy, they are also one of the most funded start-ups. Magic Leap has garnered $1.4 billion in funding from names like Google, Alibaba, and Andreessen Horowitz. Part of how they got this funding is by convincing they these corporate giants that they have cutting-edge Augmented Reality tech that can blend the virtual with the real world in a way no one can.

The secret weapon that Magic Leap was supposed to be using in their AR headset is Fiber Scanning Display technology. Fiber Scanning Displays shine a laser through a fiber-optic cable which moves back and forth rapidly and draws imagese out of light. So far though the Fiber Scanning Display tech has only been confirmed to have worked on a previous prototype of the AR headset that was about the size of a refrigerator.

According to info from The Information (via The Verge), Magic Leap has still had no success with their Fiber Scanning Displays, and it's hypothesized that they've moved to technology that is similar to Microsoft's HoloLens. The Information also reported that in an interview with Magic Leap CEO Rony Abovitz, he admitted that the AR demo, posted to the company's YouTube, that was used to promote the company and attract employees had been created by visual effects studio Weta Workshop. The video, titled "This is a game we're playing around the office right now," never ran on Magic Leap's AR glasses and was completely contrived.

Those that have tried Magic Leap's current AR prototypes say that the technology works, but it must be tethered to a computer using multiple cables. The images it displays are also said to be at times more jittery and less sharp than those presented by Microsoft's HoloLens prototype units. Abovitz has stated that Magic Leap's latest prototypes have shrunk to the size of a standard pair of glasses, but with how securely the company keeps its doors shut it will probably be some time before we know the actually status of Magic Leap's AR project.

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 11:10:00 PSTJason FaulknerHTC's Vive Studios Forms and Launches its First Gamehttp://www.shacknews.com/article/98090/htcs-vive-studios-forms-and-launches-its-first-game
http://www.shacknews.com/article/98090/htcs-vive-studios-forms-and-launches-its-first-gameHTC has launched a subsidiary called Vive Studios to focus on game development and publishing for the HTC Vive VR headset. HTC will be running Vive Studios similarly to the models Microsoft and Sony use for their internal studios.

Vive Studios will be creating first-party content using a network of internal teams. They will also be handling funding, distribution, and marketing for external studios working on Vive VR games. The new publisher/developer will be focusing on showcasing room-scale VR, one of the things Vive does much better than PSVR and even Oculus thanks to its 360 degrees tracking Lighthouse sensors.

Vive Studios has already published a game from its first-party partner 2 Bears Studio. Arcade Saga is a trio of games that showcases the HTC Vive's room-scale VR. You can get Arcade Saga now for $30 on Steam and Vive Studios has announced that they'll be releasing more games in the weeks to come.

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 10:15:00 PSTJason FaulknerLearn How to Play As Akuma in Street Fighter 5 In This Videohttp://www.shacknews.com/article/98089/learn-how-to-play-as-akuma-in-street-fighter-5-in-this-video
http://www.shacknews.com/article/98089/learn-how-to-play-as-akuma-in-street-fighter-5-in-this-videoStreet Fighter 5 is bringing a whole new year of new characters with the 2017 Character Pass. The first of these characters is Akuma, the Satsui no Hado master.

Capcom Community Manager Matt Edwards takes you through a tour of the dark master's moves. You'll get to see some of Akuma's combos, special moves, and get an idea of just how he plays in Street Fighter 5.

To get your hands on Akuma, you'll have to shell out $30 for the 2017 Street Fighter 5 Character Pass. The character pass also unlocks seven different default costume colors for each of the six characters that will be released. Akuma will be the only familiar face with the upcoming characters, though. The next five are supposed to be all new fighters making their first debut in the series.

You can get Akuma when the Street Fighter 5 2017 Character Pass launches on December 20.

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 09:20:00 PSTJason FaulknerWatch Us Perform Surgery in Surgeon Simulator: Experience Realityhttp://www.shacknews.com/article/98087/watch-us-perform-surgery-in-surgeon-simulator-experience-reality
http://www.shacknews.com/article/98087/watch-us-perform-surgery-in-surgeon-simulator-experience-realitySurgeon Simulator is a game I seem to have grown up with, and yet I can still barely complete surgeries without totally screwing everything up. That's why I was so excited to dig into Bossa Studios'Surgeon Simulator: Experience Reality on PlayStation VR.

In the gameplay clip below, watch as I fumble with a hammer, cracking ribs, and throw organs everywhere instead of successfully performing a heart transplant like you're supposed to. Then I slap the patient. I am a professional.

Hey, it gets done in the end though. Check it out below and look for a review of Surgeon Simulator: Experience Reality soon.

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 09:10:00 PSTBrittany VincentPewDiePie Didn't Delete His Channel After Reaching 50 Million Subscribershttp://www.shacknews.com/article/98086/pewdiepie-didnt-delete-his-channel-after-reaching-50-million-subscribers
http://www.shacknews.com/article/98086/pewdiepie-didnt-delete-his-channel-after-reaching-50-million-subscribersPewDiePie has more subscribers than any other channel on YouTube, but that may end this evening. An increasingly jaded PewDiePie previously pledged to delete his channel once he hit 50 million subscribers and now that threshold has been reached. After stating he was going to delete the PewDiePie channel today though, he didn't. Turns out the whole thing was a joke.

I can understand why PewDiePie would want to remove his channel, even though he's still very much on top of the YouTube game. When Felix Kjellberg started the PewDiePie channel in 2010, video blogging about video gaming was still an exciting and new thing. However, his over-the-top performances as the PewDiePie character led him to be typecast, and as he's matured his audience hasn't.

Recent upload from Kjellberg have dealt with more serious issues, like problems with YouTube's algorithms that have lead to more and more clickbait being placed in users suggested videos, and viewers getting spontaneously unsubscribed from channels. His followers, however, aren't particularly interested in hearing about that kind of thing. Those that followed PewDiePie for his zany video gaming antics simply miss the old PewDiePie.

Kjellberg desires a change in tone of his content, a change that will be accepted by his subscribers. When you've got 50 million people expecting you to do one thing and you want to do something else, why not just get rid of them? Kjellberg has money to burn, and at this point, I don't blame him for not wanting to be the face of YouTube and its gaming scene anymore.

However, apparently Kjellberg's mention of deleting his YouTube channel was a joke taken out of proportion and reported on in a much more serious context than he had intended. A video posted to the PewDiePie channel shows Kjellberg deleting his second channel. That's it. It was all a joke. However, the tone of the PewDiePie channel has definitely taken a more mature and darker tone, and maybe that's okay. For now we'll just have to watch and see what the ultimate fate of the most popular YouTube channel will be.

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 08:30:00 PSTJason FaulknerHalo 5: Monitor's Bounty Free Multiplayer Expansion Out Nowhttp://www.shacknews.com/article/98085/halo-5-monitors-bounty-free-multiplayer-expansion-out-now
http://www.shacknews.com/article/98085/halo-5-monitors-bounty-free-multiplayer-expansion-out-nowThe Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer expansion Monitor's Bounty is out now, and it brings a lot of changes and new content with it. Monitor's Bounty is the first expansion for Halo 5 since June when 343 Industries halted their monthly update cycle.

The major update to the interface that comes with Monitor's Bounty is the custom game browser. You can now use the browser to locate and join in-progress custom games. The Xbox One and PC versions are both getting this new browser, and with this update PC, Halo 5 players finally have full access to the entire Forge and Arena gameplay experience.

There's also the usual plethora of new weapons and cosmetics, including the return of the Grenade Launcher from Halo: Reach. There is also a new "Voices of War" req pack for sale for $10 which adds Edward Buck, O31 Exuberant Witness, and Yabda the Merciless as multiplayer announcers. If you're feeling generous, you can also use the new ability to gift Req packs to get your Halo 5 friends something nice. 343 Industries is also giving everyone a Req pack that can only be gifted to let players try the new system.

For more note on the expansion, including the adjustments to Arena mode, you can check out Halo Waypoint. If you own a copy of Halo 5, the latest update should have installed all of the Monitor's Bounty content onto your platform of choice.

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 07:40:00 PSTJason Faulkner30 Awesome Super Mario Run Screenshots For Your Weekendhttp://www.shacknews.com/article/98084/30-awesome-super-mario-run-screenshots-for-your-weekend
http://www.shacknews.com/article/98084/30-awesome-super-mario-run-screenshots-for-your-weekendLooking forward to getting your hands on Super Mario Run? So are we. That's why our very own Asif Khan went to the nearest Apple Store and brought back impressions of the upcoming Mario-centric runner back with him. We've also got screens aplenty, if that's your thing -- 30 of them, to be exact.

Make sure you head over to Modojo, your source for all things mobile, to give them a look, and also take in Asif's impressions of the upcoming game, which sounds like it's shaping up to be one of those "can't miss" games of the year. It may be a simple runner, but it sounds like it's a lot more than that, too.

"Super Mario Run takes care of some of the things that many gamers have become accustomed to in the series. Mario automatically slides on his butt down hills to kill enemies, and he takes care of the running. The game balances a fine attention to detail in level design along with a welcoming accessibility for new players. Super Mario Run is a fine introduction to the franchise for young boys and girls and at the same time it will provide a challenge for a more seasoned completionist gamer. "

You can find full impressions of Super Mario Run right here over at Modojo.

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 06:24:00 PSTBrittany VincentLego Dimensions trailer tells you all about Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Themhttp://www.shacknews.com/article/98083/lego-dimensions-trailer-tells-you-all-about-fantastic-beasts-and-where-to-find-them
http://www.shacknews.com/article/98083/lego-dimensions-trailer-tells-you-all-about-fantastic-beasts-and-where-to-find-themWarner Bros. Interactive Entertainment rolled out a new trailer for Lego Dimensions that introduces the story of the Harry Potter-themed Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Story Pack.

"In the latest Story Pack for LEGO Dimensions, the cast of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them make their debut as LEGO characters and critters," according to a press release sent to Shacknews. "Players can experience memorable scenes from the film firsthand in LEGO Dimensions, set in a magical 1920’s New York, or take the Fantastic Beasts folks into other entertainment universes."

The launch of Xbox One S, a slimmed-down version of Microsoft's current console, carried the company to record sales months from July through October, but the release of PS4 Pro on November 10 likely gave Sony an edge in sales.

"We have seen strong momentum for Xbox One since announcing the new Xbox One S at E3 in June. That momentum continued in November as gaming consoles were once again among the most sought-after products to buy over Black Friday weekend," Xbox marketing VP Mike Nichols said in a prepared statement.

"In addition, we saw record engagement among Xbox One owners on Xbox Live as fans enjoyed new games and great deals. In fact, the total players online on Sunday, Nov. 27 was up 40 percent compared to last year."

After being outmatched by Sony for nearly two years following the launch of Xbox One and PS4 in November 2013, Microsoft switched gears to touting statistics like total active players and Xbox Live subscribers.

But Microsoft isn't worried. Spokespeople from the company, including Xbox boss Phil Spencer, have repeatedly stated that its Scorpio upgrade for Xbox One will be significantly more powerful than both its current console and the PS4 Pro.

"If it'll be the other way around, and the games will be pushed to the limits, to look amazing on the Scorpio first, it'll probably feel like playing on an old laptop, when playing that game on the Xbox One," said Bogdan Iliesiu, a developer from Angry Mob Games, in an interview with Gaming Bolt.

Sony may have inadvertently set the stage for Microsoft's "Scorpio" upgrade to make short work of PS4 Pro. Many consumers and critics advise taking a wait-and-see stance on the Pro, citing sporadic slowdown problems depending on the game being played and the type of TV (1080p or 4K) serving as the display.

]]>Thu, 08 Dec 2016 16:19:00 PSTDavid CraddockWhite House and Twitch To Host Gaming Marathon Promoting Health Insurance Sign-Upshttp://www.shacknews.com/article/98081/white-house-and-twitch-to-host-gaming-marathon-promoting-health-insurance-sign-ups
http://www.shacknews.com/article/98081/white-house-and-twitch-to-host-gaming-marathon-promoting-health-insurance-sign-upsTwitch and President Obama's administration have just announced the White House Competitive Gaming Event, a gaming marathon that will be livestreamed direct from the White House. It will include a mix of casual games played in a competitive manner as well as a selection of eSports titles to kick things up a notch.

The White House Competitive Gaming Event kicks off next Monday, December 12, and will go from 4:00pm Eastern until 8:00pm Eastern / 5:00pm Pacific. This marks the very first time the White House will have participated in a gaming marathon.

Aside from the novelty of watching a gaming stream broadcast from the White House, the objective of the event is to encourage viewers to sign up for health coverage. Next Thursday, December 15, is the cutoff to register under the Affordable Care Act (aka "Obamacare") for coverage that kicks in starting in January 2017.

"Young adults had the highest uninsured rates before the Affordable Care Act and have seen the sharpest drop in uninsured rates since 2010," wrote Erik Martin, policy advisor for the White House Office of Science and Technology, via the offiicial White House blog.

"But millions of millennials remain uninsured, and many of those uninsured young adults could qualify for tax credits on the Health Insurance Marketplace to keep insurance affordable."

Gaming celebrities will join in to play some of the industry's most popular games. In particular, Ryan "Gootecks" Gutierrez will call Street Fighter 5 match-ups between SF celebs Justin Wong and Mike Ross. Additionally, popular names like ActaBunniFooFoo, Annemunition, bijoudemi, darkness_429, Elspeth, imcoty, kungfufruitcup, LifeWithLaughs, Okaydrian, thatchickparker, and Voyboy will be taking part with their own contributions to the stream.

"Gamers, like everyone, deserve high-quality health care coverage. Engaging the expanding gamer community is part of the Administration’s effort to meet people where they are to help them find a health care plan that’s best for them," Martin wrote.

]]>Thu, 08 Dec 2016 15:56:00 PSTDavid CraddockShadow Warrior 2: Way of the Wang free DLC is available nowhttp://www.shacknews.com/article/98080/shadow-warrior-2-way-of-the-wang-free-dlc-is-available-now
http://www.shacknews.com/article/98080/shadow-warrior-2-way-of-the-wang-free-dlc-is-available-nowShadow Warrior 2's first free update, Way of the Wang, is available now from Devolver Digital and Flying Wild Hog.

Way of the Wang opens up a new area connected to the game's town hub, as well as new crafting abilities and weapon gems: Infuse to merge, Purity to wash away negative stats, and Embed to boost your base weapon's stats.

The DLC also adds seven Brutal Trials. Completing Trial of the Ancient God bequeaths you the Fist of Gozu weapon.

A handful of achievements and three "Insane" difficulty levels round out Way of the Wang's sizable content.

Check out the launch trailer to see some of the DLC's features and items in action.

]]>Thu, 08 Dec 2016 15:40:00 PSTDavid CraddockFinal Fantasy 15: Where to Find All Royal Armshttp://www.shacknews.com/article/98079/final-fantasy-15-where-to-find-all-royal-arms
http://www.shacknews.com/article/98079/final-fantasy-15-where-to-find-all-royal-armsNot too far into the plot of Final Fantasy 15 you'll encounter your first Royal Arm. Royal Arms originate from the past kings of Lucis, and as heir to the throne of Lucis, Noctis is the only party member that can use them. Each Royal Arm is unique, with its own stat boosts and method of play. In fact, some Royal Arms don't fit into the pre-defined weapons categories; one is a bow, and another is a throwing star.

Royal Arms are some of the most powerful weapons in FFXV, but there are some disadvantages to using them. The principal problem is that you lose a little bit of HP every time you use a Royal Arm. Another disadvantage is that there are weapons in the game that approach or surpass the strength of the Royal Arms. Collecting all of them though is a challenge, and the "Fateful Heir" trophy requires it.

The Main Story Royal Arms

Seven of The Royal Arms you have to collect as part of the story. Instead of giving you the locations of these (and possibly posting spoilers) we'll give the quest name in which you'll receive it.

Trident of the Oracle

Sword of the Father

Hidden Royal Arms

These six Royal Arms are scattered throughout dungeons across Lucis. You'll have to seek them out, and some of them are guarded by strong daemons and beasts.

Scepter of the Pious

How to Obtain: The scepter may be one of the first of the hidden Royal Arms you find. On the trip to Cape Caem in Chapter 6, you're asked if you want to pull over a few times, one of which is when you're in the Southwest corner of Lucis. Here you'll find Malmalam Thicket. Make sure you're about level 35+ as the enemies here can hit hard if you're not. At the end of the thicket is a Bandersnatch, the boss, and the crypt containing the Scepter.

Attack: 237

Stat Bonus:+150 Magic+50% Dark Resistance

Mace of the Fierce

How to Obtain: The Mace of the Fierce is located in the Rock of Ravatogh. In the westernmost point of the map, there is a giant volcano. When you approach it, a quest will activate, and the Rock of Ravatogh will be marked on your map. Just follow the marker, and you'll find the crypt containing the mace.

Attack: 334

Stat Bonus:+300 HP-50% Ballistic Resistance

Star of the Rogue

How to Obtain: You'll find the Star of the Rogue in Myrlwood. To find Myrlwood, you'll have to go just south of the Vesperpool. Quest through the dungeon and defeat the level 38 Treant to get to the Star of the Rogue's crypt.

Bow of the Clever

How to Obtain: The Bow of the Clever is actually near where you start the game. You'll have to seek out the Balouve Mines in Leide and fight through the high-level monsters to obtain it. Make sure you're at least level 45-50 before you attempt to conquer the Balouve Mines.

Attack: 203

Stat Bonus:+80 Magic+50% Ballistic Resistance

Shield of the Just

How to Obtain: The crypt is in a forest west of Cauthess, the Disc. When you reach Saxham Outpost, look around in the wooded area near it. You'll know you've found it when you see Coeurls.

Greatsword of the Tall

How to Obtain: The greatsword is hidden in Costlemark Tower which is located to the southeast of Cauthess, the Disc, directly south of the Chocobo racetrack in an area designated as the Fallgrove. This is a very hard dungeon, so you'll want to be around level 60 to conquer it.

Attack: 518

Stat Bonus:+200 HP-30 Spirit-40% All Elemental Resistances

Let Your Armiger Shine!

Now that you have all the Royal Arms, you might want to start on another one of Final Fantasy 15's great sidequests. Take a look at our Final Fantasy 15 guides to plan your next destination in Lucis!

]]>Thu, 08 Dec 2016 15:00:00 PSTJason FaulknerBungie, Activision bring on Vicarious Visions to help build Destinyhttp://www.shacknews.com/article/98078/bungie-activision-bring-on-vicarious-visions-to-help-build-destiny
http://www.shacknews.com/article/98078/bungie-activision-bring-on-vicarious-visions-to-help-build-destinyVicarious Visions announced a partnership with Bungie and Activision to help continue fleshing out the Halo creator's Destiny franchise.

Best known for Guitar Hero, Skylanders, and Game Boy Advance editions of entries in the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series, Vicarious Visions is currently working on Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, a remake of the Crash games on PSX due to release on PS4 sometime next year.

Vicarious Visions joins High Moon in developing content for Destiny. Bungie and Activision brought High Moon, whose developers pitched in on 2014's Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, into the Destiny fold last year.

Exactly what content Vicarious Visions and High Moon will be working on remains a mystery, but it likely has to do with Destiny 2, expected to launch in 2017—possibly on PC in addition to Xbox One and PS4.

The rumor started this fall when a source purported to be close to Bungie claimed to know someone who works at Activision, and that this person "was on a plane and then a train and saw a presentation on another person's laptop. (No, serious mode: This is what is being internally communicated to employees."

Releasing Destiny 2 on PC would go a long way in fulfilling Activision's goals of broadening Destiny's appeal.

"We're on track and really excited for what we think is going to be an awesome sequel for Destiny in 2017," said Activision CEO Eric Hirshberg in November. "That sequel is designed to both excite our highly engaged current players but also to broaden the appeal even further, bringing in new fans and bringing back lapsed fans."